US20230266036A1

US20230266036A1 - Universal adapting device for retrofitting a thermostat system and methods of using the same

Info

Publication number: US20230266036A1
Application number: US17/674,861
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryan Irons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-02-18
Filing date: 2022-02-18
Publication date: 2023-08-24

Abstract

The present invention provides a universal adapter and transceiver retrofit for a battery-operated thermostat in communication with a control unit in heating ventilation and air conditioning systems. The universal adapter may be integrated into the thermostat pins and control unit wiring to eliminate the need for wiring within the regulated environment. The universal adapter and transceiver may enable mobile communication to the control unit and portability of the thermostat with the option to relocation of the thermostat.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an HVAC control system, thermostat controller relocation and wireless transmission, and methods of using the same. More particularly, the present invention provides a novel adapter and circuitry for relocating an existing thermostat with the option of mobility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are used to manipulate the environmental conditions of a control volume (e.g., house, indoor facility, etc.). A thermostat is a system controller that is typically used to control the output of an HVAC system. Thermostats are typically attached to a wall in a centralized location of the control volume, and supporting circuitry is ran through the wall to send control commands to a heat pump, furnace, and outdoor condenser. Thermostats for air conditioning (A/C) systems have sensors collecting and relaying data through a processing unit to a graphical display, and a user may program a desired environmental setting that triggers specific HVAC systems to switch on and off. The thermostat's fixed location is often an annoyance for a user to access for modifying the desired environmental settings and may not be placed in the most ideal location of a control volume.
Contemporary thermostats have wireless functionality adding the flexibility of control and remote access from a mobile device. Although homeowners may replace the thermostat with a wirelessly enabled system, a contractor typically must come out to relocate and route additional wiring throughout the home to a new location. In some instances, such wireless devices require Wi-Fi technology, which the home owner may not have. Such systems are also installed in the same undesirable location of the original thermostat due to the HVAC system's wiring. This location may result in environmental data that does not accurately reflect the environment where people congregate and may lead to uncomfortable conditions.
The relocation of a thermostat is costly. Therefore, a device and method of adapting the thermostat with a primary and secondary circuit to enable the thermostat's relocation in an ideal location are needed. However, the solutions developed so far have had deficiencies and drawbacks that have precluded significantly adopting such technologies to an existing battery-operated thermostat. Thus, there remains a need for a universal, wireless adapter that allows a thermostat system to be retrofitted and relocated to a desired location in the house or other building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a universal adapter for relocating a battery-operated thermostat, HVAC incorporating such a device, and methods of using such a device. The adapter of the present invention relocating a thermostat without rewiring and routing additional wiring throughout a home. Thermostats receive power from a 24 VAC (e.g., voltage alternating current) source provided from a furnace or forced air unit (FAU) or a series of batteries and can be grouped into four basic types: non-programmable, programmable, Wi-Fi, and Smart thermostat types. Although there are different methods for powering a thermostat, all thermostats are in communication with the 24 VAC source, and additional wiring for controlling the various systems. The present invention focuses more particularly on a battery-operated thermostat having a wall-mounted base plate fixedly attached to a wall where the HVAC controller wiring was placed in the structure's construction. The thermostat may be comprised of two pieces a thermostat assembly and a backplate. The backplate may have exposed terminals (e.g., metal prongs, jumper cables, ribbon connectors, etc.) for easy connection to the thermostat assembly's corresponding terminals. In some embodiments, the terminals may be electrically mated to the original HVAC wiring with a series of screw terminal blocks. The thermostat assembly may then attach to the backplate, and the respective terminals are joined. The thermostat assembly typically houses a thermostat sensor, logic circuitry, anticipators, levers, buttons, slides, and controls for adjusting the desired temperature. These systems are intended to be kept in a fixed location.
The present invention provides an adapter that may connect to each of the independent thermostat pins, record and/or interpret the output signal from the pins, and wirelessly transmit the output signal to a corresponding microcontroller in electronic communication with the HVAC controller. The adapter may enable the thermostat to be removed from the original location and placed in a more desirable location, e.g., which the occupant(s) wish to be the locus of the temperature measurements and control. Some rooms in a building (e.g., a bedroom) tend to be hotter or colder than others, and the occupant may desire to measure and control temperature in that particular room.
The HVAC wiring of the present invention typically has at least three control wires, power, and a common ground wire. Each of the control wires may be routed off the HVAC controller's control board and may communicate to the control board that the activation of a specific sub-system has been requested from the thermostat. In most thermostat systems, the three control wires control a fan, a cooling cycle, and a heating cycle. The control board may configure the power and ground as 24 VAC. In more industrially specific nomenclature, a G wire may control a fan, a Y wire may control the cooling cycle, and the W wire may control the heating cycle, R is 24 VAC and C wire is the common ground. There may be an Rc wire in some systems that differentiates power from the cooling and heating cycle, and others may exclude the common wire.
The G wire may control a fan, Y wire may control the cooling cycle, W wire may control the heating (e.g., Furnace), Rc and R may relay power to 24-volt power for heating. These wires may correspond with the color of the wire G (green), Y (yellow), W (white), Rc (red), and R (red). A thermostat may be operable to route power from the R wire to the Y wire, which tells the furnace to turn the blower on; the thermostat may then turn on the Y cooling system and communicate to the outdoor condenser.
The present invention may provide a power storage and regulatory power circuit for collecting power from a power supplied from the HVAC controller's control board (e.g., forced air unit, furnace, etc.). The power supplied from the HVAC controller is typically 24 VAC, and the regulatory power circuit (e.g., full-wave bridge rectifier with regulator-circuit) may convert the AC power to a DC source for storage in an EDLC capacitor (e.g., supercapacitor) or a rechargeable battery for powering a microcontroller (e.g., a microprocessor) which may operate from a range of about 1.2V to 14V (e.g., about 1.3 Volts, about 5 Volts, about 12 Volts, or any value therein). The regulatory power circuit may include a plurality of capacitors, resistors, diodes, and a bridge rectifier configured to convert the 24 VAC to the operational DC voltage of a microcontroller. For example, the regulatory power circuit may take a 24 Volt RMS signal from the HVAC system and convert it to a 5 Volt DC signal required to power the microcontroller. In addition to the microcontroller, a low power chipset operable to enable wireless communication (e.g., radio, BLE, Wi-Fi, TPC, etc.) may receive power from the regulatory power circuit and power storage. The microcontroller is further in communication with a switching circuit for routing the power to the HVAC control unit's control board.
The present invention provides an adapter, having a second microprocessor that may be operable to record and interpret a command from said battery-operated thermostat as a voltage and transmit through wireless communication to a receiver. The receiver having circuitry comprising a switching circuit that includes a series of electromechanical switches each of which may be operable to join wiring from an HVAC control to the power provided from the HVAC controller. Instructions provided to the first microprocessor may correspond to a closed state and open state of each wire output of a thermostat. The receiver may provide a wireless receiver circuitry operable to communicate with a high voltage transceiver that may have a transmission range of 300 ft.
The present invention may provide a method for installing the first and second microprocessors to the thermostat and the forced air unit (e.g., control unit), enabling the retrofit of a battery-operated thermostat to have wireless communication for retrofitting. For example, and without limitation, the HVAC controller's electrical power may be disengaged by switching the breaker (e.g., power routing system) to the off position for all HVAC components. Next a battery-operated thermostat (e.g., non-smart thermostat) may be disconnected from the wiring to the control unit and removed from the wall's fixed location. The thermostat wiring (wires previously connected to the control unit) may then be connected to the adapter (e.g., second processor and circuitry). The control unit wiring may then connect to a first microcontroller and regulatory power circuit. The thermostat and adapter combo may be secured to a preferred location in the building. Finally, the breaker may be re-engaged, and the adapter may begin to transmit commands to the first microprocessor. The microcontroller may be accessed through a network server (programmed on the first microcontroller) and monitored remotely from a computer (e.g., phone, tablet, PC) to ensure the adapter functions as intended.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first and second microprocessor may further comprise a teaching processor operable of observing and recording a change in the signals from the thermostat and/or HVAC system, determine any pattern, and utilize an algorithm to determine the proper state and pattern of each signal to control the HVAC system properly. The teaching processor may automatically generate an operating table or a table of each signal's orientation and fluctuations based on the recorded signal information. Alternatively, the recorded signal information may be utilized to match it with other known operation tables of commonly used thermostats. In another embodiment, the teaching processer may be programmed or taught manually, wherein the current state of the thermostat (e.g., heating/cooling/off) is transmitted or inputted to the HVAC controller to determine the proper operation table. It should be noted that certain states are less informative than others, so more than one thermostat state may need to be transmitted in order to determine the proper operation table. In such embodiments, the microprocessor may have one or more switches toggling between the different states of the thermostat during a teaching process. For example, the microprocessor may have several switches to differentiate between the thermostat's current operation mode so that during a teaching process, the user may easily input the current state of the thermostat. The switches may also be programmable and on a web server hosted by, or connected to, at least one of the microprocessors. The web server may allow any user to connect directly to a microprocessor via a device with web browsing capabilities, such as smartphones or computers, to train the teaching processor. Alternatively, the thermostat may be set to a particular state for training the teaching processor upon startup. For example, on startup, the processor may be designed to search for a thermostat configuration that corresponds with a cooling operation and utilize the thermostat signals to determine the proper operation table if the thermostat is set to a cooling state or whether the current configuration is invalid.
While some embodiments of the present invention utilize Wi-Fi technology to wirelessly send signals from the second microprocessor to the first microprocessor, it should be understood that any form of wireless communication that may be used indoors, such as Bluetooth or other radio/electromagnetic communication methods, may be utilized. In some embodiments, the microcontroller may create a simple wireless ad hoc network to form a channel wherein only the first and second microprocessor may communicate. Such network communication forms may be based on any suitable protocol for network communication such as transmission control protocol (TCP) as a user datagram protocol (UDP) or utilize a proprietary communication protocol. In other embodiments, the first and second microprocessors may also be operable to connect to local wireless networks or function as an access point to enable other devices to communicate with the microcontroller. For example, the first microprocessor may function as a Wi-Fi access point, wherein the second microprocessor may automatically connect with and communicate via UDP.
The present invention may utilize a regulatory power (e.g., rectifying circuit) circuit to rectify HVAC systems' AC power source to a stable DC power source utilized by most available microcontrollers. This rectifying circuit may comprise a transformer with a specified winding ratio to reduce the voltage amplitude of the AC signal to a voltage within the bounds of the desired amplitude of the DC source. For example, a transformer with a winding ratio of about 34:5 may be utilized to step down the 24 Volt Root-Mean-Square (RMS) AC power source to a 5 Volt Peak-to-Peak AC power source. The rectifying circuit may further comprise a full-wave bridge rectifier and a smoothening capacitor to convert the power source from an AC source to a DC source. The rectifying circuit may further comprise a Zener diode to further stabilize the DC source by limiting the maximum output voltage. It should be noted that, since Zener diodes have properties that allow them to regulate voltage, the Zener diode may be used as an alternative to the transformer. Similarly, the rectifying circuit may, alternatively, utilize a step-down converter to lower the DC voltage produced by the full-wave bridge rectifier instead of utilizing a transformer and/or Zener diode.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a universal adapter device for enabling the relocation of any battery-operated thermostat wired to a forced-air control unit, furnace of an HVAC system or a control unit, the universal adapter device comprising: a first microprocessor in communication with a switching circuit operable for routing current to the wiring of an HVAC controller and receiving instruction from wireless receiver circuitry; a power leaching circuit operable to extract power from the control unit to a storage and regulatory power circuit operable for providing power to the first microprocessor. The programming in the first microprocessor may interpret a load and state from the control unit to initiate a power leaching circuit to retrieve power from the control unit, interpret the state of a storage and regulatory power circuit to halt the power leaching circuit from retrieving power, and the logging and interpreting inputs from the wireless receiver circuitry for providing instructions to the switch circuit regarding the configuration of each switch in the switch circuit to an open or closed state.
The universal adapter device may further include a second microprocessor operable to measure from the output of thermostat pins of the thermostat, wirelessly transmit information directly to said first microprocessor wireless receiver circuitry, and programming in said second microprocessor for interpreting the outputs of said battery-operated thermostat; direct the state of said outputs to said transmission circuit; and determining the state of a power bank for providing power to said second microprocessor. The switching circuit may be comprised of a series of electromechanical switches each of which is operable to join said wiring and said regulatory power circuit for each wire of said control unit. The receiving instruction may include information corresponding to a closed state and open state of each wire output of said thermostat. The closed state and open state may be operable to configure each of said electromechanical switches in the state associated with said receiving instructions. The wireless receiver circuitry may include a high voltage transceiver operable to have a radius up to 300 ft. The power leaching circuit may be operable to convert an AC voltage source to a low DC voltage for storage in a secondary battery medium. The second microprocessor may be a low-power processor operable to be configured between a hibernation mode and an active mode. The processor may be configured in said hibernation mode when there is no signal change from said thermostat pins. The microprocessor may be configured in said active mode whenever a signal change is detected from said thermostat pins and while wireless transmission is conducted. The microprocessor may be operable to apply a load to said thermostat from said power bank to a power input pin of said thermostat. The programing may enable the microprocessor to interpret a change in a digital or analog signal from said thermostat. The programing may determine the state of a power bank and indicate to a user a state of charge. The wireless receiver circuitry may be operable to communicate and accept commands from a wireless communication device. The switching circuit may be in electronic communication with each of said individual HVAC control wires of said HVAC control with a series of terminal screw ports corresponding to each of said control wires. The second microprocessor may be in electronic communication with a series of terminals screw ports corresponding to each of said thermostat pins of said thermostat.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a universal adapter device further comprising a second microprocessor operable to apply a load to a thermostat and monitor the thermostat pins for a load response and wirelessly transmit information directly to a first microprocessor wireless receiver circuit. The programming in the second microprocessor may be operable to interpret the commands from a human operator inputted into a thermostat, direct the command outputs to a transmission circuit, and measure the state of a power bank that may provide power to the second microprocessor. The second processor may be in electronic communication with a switching circuit comprising a series of electromechanical switches each of which may be operable to join wiring from an HVAC control to the power provided from the HVAC controller. Instructions provided to the first microprocessor correspond to the electrical state of each wire output of the thermostat (e.g., closed or open). The wireless receiver circuitry of the receiver may be operable to communicate with a high voltage transceiver that may have a transmission range of 300 ft.
The mobile transceiver may include a power leaching circuit that may be operable to convert an AC current to a low DC voltage for storage in a secondary battery medium. The second microprocessor may be configurable between a hibernation mode (e.g., low power) and an active mode. The second microprocessor programming may be operable to digitally or analogically interpret a change in load from a thermostat pin. A switching circuit of the first microprocessor may attach to each individual HVAC control wire with a series of terminal screw ports corresponding to each of the HVAC control wires. The second microprocessor may be in electronic communication with a series of terminals screw ports corresponding to each of the thermostat pins. The first microprocessor and said second microprocessor may communicate to one another via a direct wireless communication (e.g. wireless ad hoc communication) without the need of a pre-existing networking infrastructure (e.g. router).
It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide a method for retrofitting a thermostat with the first and second microprocessor and supporting circuitry. The method enabling wireless communication, transmission and relocation of the thermostat, the method comprising: the removal of a thermostat from the mounting location (e.g., wall) and disconnecting the control wires of leading to the HVAC controller, and attaching the first microprocessor and switching circuit to the control wires of the HVAC controller. Then attaching the second microprocessor to the thermostat pins of the thermostat; and relocation of the thermostat to the new desired location. Disconnecting said control wires may be removed from the thermostat intact. The first microprocessor and switch circuit to said control wires may be attached in electronic communication with said HVAC controller at any location along the control wire structure. The second microprocessor may have a series of wires corresponding to the each of said thermostat pins. The relocation of said thermostat may be within 100 feet of said first microprocessor. The first and second microprocessor may enable portability and movement of said thermostat.
Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those having skill in the art from the description and disclosure provided herein.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a first microprocessor operable to be connected to any location along the wires leading to the HVAC controller.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter operable to enable mobility of a thermostat and the measurement of a temperature in different areas of a home operable to be transmitted to a HVAC controller.
The above-described objects, advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described herein. Further benefits and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a view of the universal adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 provides a view of the universal adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides an environmental perspective view of a home with a thermostat attached to a fixed location, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides an environmental perspective view of a home and the placement of thermostat with the universal adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 provides a view of the universal adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 provides a view of the universal adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.
The present invention concerns an HVAC thermostat adapter operable to enable the relocation of a thermostat to a different fixed location. The universal adapter may be incorporated into battery-operated thermostats and analog thermostats. FIG. 1 provides a view of an exemplary first circuit and microprocessor 100 in communication with a control unit 300 of an HVAC system. FIG. 2 provides views of a complementary (second) circuit and transceiver 200 in communication with the thermostat 350. The universal adapter may comprise both the first circuit 100 and the second circuit 200 allowing for wireless transmission from thermostat 350 communicating user inputted settings to the control unit 300 and enabling the relocation of the thermostat 350. The universal adapter, more specifically the second circuit 200, may be in electronic communication with the thermostat 350 at the electrical input locations for the HVAC system (e.g., where the thermostat was previously connected to the control unit wiring).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the first circuit 100 may include a processor 101 transceiver 120 and switching circuit 102. That may attach to the HVAC control unit 300 and may have a leaching power circuit 130 from the control unit 300. The leaching power circuit may include an AC to DC converter and regulator 130 for distributing power to the transceiver 120, processor 101 and switching circuit 102. The second circuit 200 may have an internal power supply 203 that is operable to send power to a low-power microprocessor 201 and transmitter 202. The second circuit 200 may have an array of screw terminals 204 that may be operable to electrically secured (e.g., wired) to the thermostat pins 351 each of the thermostat pins 351 may have a corresponding screw terminal on the second circuit. The connection (e.g., screw) terminals 204 of the second circuit 200 may have a wire corresponding to each thermostat pin 351.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the second circuit processor 201 may receive power from the power storage 203 and may send a low-voltage out of the processor 201 from pin V _out 210 to the thermostat terminal wires R and RC. Once processor 201 sends the V _out 210 signal, the processor 201 may enter a sleep mode (e.g., low power mode, hibernation, etc.) to preserve battery life. When a system on the thermostat 350 is enabled, the regulator circuit 205 may wake the processor with the line 211 corresponding to V_inon the processor. The line 211 may then be switched off by the regulator circuit 205, and processor 201 may wait for a voltage at the processor 201 pins d₁, d₂, d₃, and d₄from the regulator circuit 205. The processor 201 pins d₁, d₂, d₃, and d₄may correspond to the thermostat control wires 351, including O/B, G, W, and Y wires, which may deliver user inputted control commands to the processor 201 via the regulator 205. O/B (orange/black) may correspond to a changeover valve relay used for heat pump systems, the G (green) wire may correspond to a fan wire, W (white) may correspond to the heating wire, and Y (yellow) may correspond to the compressor for air cooling. The processor 201 may interpret the inputs and transmit the input information from the antenna and transmitter 202 to the corresponding receiving transmitter 120 of the first circuit 100. In some embodiments, the regulator circuit 205 may be integrated into the second circuit processor 201.
The first circuit 100 and the transceiver 120 may interpret the signal received from the transmission transmitter 202, and the processor 101 may interpret the signal and send a control signal to the switch circuit 102 and the individual switching blocks S₁, S₂, S₃, and S₄. The switch circuit may then configure the switch block states to match the configuration received from the transmitter 120. All of the switching blocks S₁, S₂, S₃, and S₄are normally in an open state. The switch blocks 102 may receive power from the AC-DC converter and regulator 103 and may receive and direct a high voltage from the control unit 300. For example, and without limitation, a single switching block S₁may have a low voltage input and voltage output 132 for switching the state of the control wire 110. The switching block S₁state may be configured from an open state to a closed state from an input command from line 104 from processor 101. The closed state may join the voltage line 115 and the control wire line 110 of the control unit. The control unit wiring 110-113 may be in electronic communication with the first circuit 100 and the control wire 110 may control the cooling system, the control wire 111 may control the fan, the control wire 112 may control the dehumidifier, while the control wire 113 may control the heating system (e.g., furnace, heat pump, etc.). The configuration of the open and closed states for the systems may vary, the control wire 110 may be in a closed state and the fan wire 112 may also be in a closed state. The first circuit 100 may typically always have access to power from the control unit. The transceiver 202 of the first circuit may have a high-power processor enabling the second circuit processor 201 to operate at a lower voltage to prevent an unwanted discharging of the power storage 203 used in circuit 200.
In an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 illustrates an environmental perspective of a typical HVAC control system in building 500, the thermostat 350 affixed to a wall 501 of building 500. The thermostat 350 may have wiring 305 that is routed through wall 501 to a HVAC controller 301 of the forced air unit 300. The wiring 305 may be placed between the inner wall and the exterior surface of the wall. A user may then remove the thermostat 350 and patch the hole in the wall 501 where the wiring 305 would pass through to the thermostat. The wiring 305 may enclose all of the individual control wires (110-115/11N) described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 .
FIG. 4 illustrates an environmental perspective of the universal adapter incorporated into the HVAC control system of the home of FIG. 3 the thermostat 350 may be in electronic communication with the second circuit 200. The HVAC controller 301 of the forced air unit 300 may be in electronic communication with the first circuit 100 and the first circuit 100 may be in wireless communication with the second circuit 200. The thermostat 350 and adapter combo 200 may be in electronic communication and may function as a remote device or may be affixed to a different wall 502 in building 500. The thermostat 350 and adapter combo 200 may be free-standing. The first circuit 100 may be in electronic communication with the wiring 110-115, which may power the controller 100. A mobile device 360 (e.g., computer, tablet, etc.) may be in communication with the first circuit 100 an may monitor the connectivity of the first and second circuits 100, 200.
FIG. 5 illustrates an expanded configuration enabling the inclusion of additional HVAC systems to the first circuit of FIG. 1 . The first circuit 100 may be expanded to accommodate additional HVAC control systems (e.g., in a range of 4 to 10) where lines 110-11N may be in direct communication with the HVAC control unit 301. The additional HVAC control systems 11N may be in electronic communication with the control unit 301. The first circuit may also include additional corresponding switches Sn in the switching circuit 102 that may be configured in the same configuration as S₁-S₄. The switches Sn may be in direct communication with the processor 101 with each having a wire lead 10 n and may have a screw terminal operable to receive the wiring 11N and the common wire (114 of FIG. 1 ). The additional switch(es) Sn, control wire(s) 11N, and processor port(s) 10 n is a representation of the configuration of a switch when expanding the first circuit 100 to accommodate additional systems. The second circuit shown in FIG. 6 may have N number of additional screw terminals 204 to electronically connect to the thermostat pins 351 and systems that are monitored and controlled by the thermostat 350. The screw terminal N may be connected to the regulator and may be in communication with the microprocessor 201 at input dn. In some examples, and without limitation, the additional systems that may correspond to the screw terminal N may be 2 stage cooling, 2 stage heating, emergency heating, auxiliary heating, and RV heating. Accordingly, the switching circuit 102 may be expanded with additional switches Sn, configured in the same manner, to accommodate the additional systems that may correspond to the screw terminal N.

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY

The present invention provides a universal adapter and receiver for retrofitting a battery-operated thermostat and allows for the relocation of a thermostat without the need to rewiring a building. The present universal adapter and receiver system is able be attached to any battery-operated thermostat and HVAC control unit for enabling wireless communication. It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A universal adapter device for enabling the relocation of any battery-operated thermostat wired to a forced air control unit, furnace of a HVAC system or control unit, the universal adapter device comprising:

a. a first microprocessor in communication with a switching circuit operable for routing current through the wiring of a control unit and receiving instruction from wireless receiver circuitry;

b. a power leaching circuit operable to extract power from said control unit to a storage and regulatory power circuit operable for providing power to said first microprocessor;

c. programming in said first microprocessor for:

i. interpreting a load and state of said control unit to initiate said power leaching circuit to retrieve power from said control unit;

ii. interpreting a state of said storage and regulatory power circuit to halt said power leaching circuit from retrieving power from said control unit; and

iii. logging and interpreting the inputs from said wireless receiver circuitry for providing instructions to said switch circuit to configure each switch in said switch circuit to an open or closed state.

2. The universal adapter device of claim 1, further comprising a second microprocessor operable to measure from the output of thermostat pins of said thermostat, wirelessly transmit information directly to said first microprocessor wireless receiver circuitry, and programming in said second microprocessor for:

i. interpreting the outputs of said battery-operated thermostat;

ii. direct the state of said outputs to said transmission circuit; and

iii. determining the state of a power bank for providing power to said second microprocessor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said switching circuit is comprised of a series of electromechanical switches each of which is operable to join said wiring and said regulatory power circuit for each wire of said control unit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiving instruction includes information corresponding to a closed state and open state of each wire output of said thermostat.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said a closed state and open state configures each of said electromechanical switches in the state associated with said receiving instructions.

6. (canceled)

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said power leaching circuit is operable to convert an AC voltage source to a low DC voltage for storage in a secondary battery medium.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein said second microprocessor is a low-power processor operable to be configured between a hibernation mode and an active mode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said processor is configured in said hibernation mode when there is no signal change from said thermostat pins.

10. (canceled)

11. The device of claim 2, wherein said microprocessor operable to apply a load to said thermostat from said power bank to a power input pin of said thermostat.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein said programing is operable to interpret a change in a digital or analog signal from said thermostat.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein said programing determines the state of a power bank and indicate to a user a state of charge.

14. (canceled)

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said switching circuit is in electronic communication with each of said individual HVAC control wires of said HVAC control with a series of terminal screw ports corresponding to each of said control wires.

16. (canceled)

17. A method for retrofitting a thermostat, using universal adapter device of claim 1 for enabling wireless communication, transmission and relocation of said thermostat, the method comprising:

a. removing said thermostat from a wall and disconnecting said control wires of the said HVAC controller;

b. attaching said first microprocessor and switching circuit to said control wires of said HVAC controller;

c. attaching said second microprocessor to said thermostat pins of said thermostat; and

d. relocation of said thermostat to the new desired location.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said disconnecting said control wires are removed from the thermostat intact.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said attaching said first microprocessor and switch circuit to said control wires in electronic communication with to said HVAC controller at any location along the control wire structure.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said attaching said second microprocessor has a series of wires corresponding to the each of said thermostat pins.

21. (canceled)

22. The universal adapter of claim 1, wherein said first and second microprocessor enable portability and movement of said thermostat.

23. A universal adapter device for enabling the relocation of any battery-operated thermostat wired to a forced air control unit, furnace of a HVAC system or control unit, the universal adapter device comprising:

a. a first microprocessor in communication with a switching circuit operable for routing current through the wiring of a control unit and receiving instruction via a wireless receiver circuitry;

b. a power leaching circuit operable to extract power from said control unit to a regulatory power circuit operable for providing power to said first microprocessor;

c. programming in said first microprocessor for interpreting the inputs from said wireless receiver circuitry for providing instructions to said switch circuit to configure each switch in said switch circuit to an open or closed state.

24. The universal adapter device of claim 23, further comprising a second microprocessor operable to measure the output of thermostat pins of said thermostat, wirelessly transmit information directly to said first microprocessor wireless receiver circuitry, and programming in said second microprocessor for:

i. interpreting the outputs of said battery-operated thermostat; and

ii. direct the state of said outputs to said transmission circuit.

25. The universal adapter device of claim 24, wherein said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor communicate to one another via a direct wireless communication without the need of a pre-existing networking infrastructure.